The greatest event in the history of Russia of the twentieth century, which radically changed its existence, could not but be reflected in the work of at least some significant artists who lived in this crucial era. But for some of them, this topic has become dominant.
Singer of the Revolution
Many cultural figures have their own established image in public consciousness. According to the tradition that developed in the Soviet period of history, the name of the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky is inextricably linked with the image of the Russian revolution. And for such a relationship there are very good reasons. The author of the poem "Ode to the Revolution" gave it a whole conscious life to its chanting. He did it furiously and selflessly. And unlike many of his colleagues in the literary workshop, Mayakovsky did not cheat. The creations that came out from under his pen came from a pure heart. It was written with talent, like everything that Mayakovsky created. "Ode to the Revolution" is one of his early works. But it is by no means student, the poet showed himself in him as an already-formed master. He has his own style, his own imagery and his own expression.
What did Mayakovsky see ? "Ode to revolution" - horror or delight?
This poem was written in 1918 in the wake of revolutionary events. And only at first glance does it seem unambiguously enthusiastic. Yes, the poet wholeheartedly accepts the accomplished revolution. He felt and predicted its inevitability even in his very first literary experiments. But even a superficial analysis of Mayakovsky’s poem "Ode to the Revolution" does not allow ignoring the flashy contradictions that the author sees in a whirlwind of events. The grandeur of the ongoing reorganization of the world is only emphasized, it would seem, by completely inappropriate adjectives, which Mayakovsky awards the ongoing revolution - “animal”, “children’s”, “cheap”, but at the same time, without a doubt, “great”. Enthusiasm for the process of the birth of a new world in no way cancels the horrors and abominations that occur at the same time. Reading Mayakovsky, it’s hard not to recall the famous saying of the leader of the world proletariat that “revolutions are not made with white gloves”. Lenin knew what he was talking about. And the poet knew what he was writing about. He drew his images not from romantic dreams, but from surrounding reality.
Vladimir Mayakovsky, Ode to the Revolution. Analysis of stylistic features
The first thing that attracts attention to this work is a torn poetic rhythm and, it seems, a chaotic stream of images. But only in such compositional constructions there is neither chaos nor chance. Everything that passes before the mind's eye harmoniously submits to poetic logic. This poem illustrates well what early Mayakovsky became famous for. "Ode to the Revolution" is one of his programmatic works. It is generally accepted that many characteristic stylistic techniques Mayakovsky borrowed from European poets-futurists of the beginning of the century. But even if one agrees with this statement, one cannot but give him credit for the virtuoso brilliance of this set of borrowed features used in Russian poetry. Before Mayakovsky appeared in her, such a synthesis seemed simply impossible.
From futurism to socialist realism
Was Mayakovsky only writing about the events of 1917 in his work? The Ode to Revolution provides us with a wider interpretation of this poem. It has an obvious philosophical meaning. It tells of the changes in society and the price of these changes. Reading the works of this poet, it is quite easy to notice the simple fact that practically no one wrote before him. In Russian literature, Vladimir Mayakovsky is an innovative poet and revolutionary poet. His figurative system, poetic thinking and expressive means opened the main path of development not only for Russian poetry of the twentieth century, but also for many aesthetic areas that are not directly related to it. The influence of Mayakovsky’s creativity is easy to trace and detect in many works of art, from painting and graphics to cinema inclusive. Even when in the thirties the Soviet regime burned with a hot iron everything that deviated from the party’s general line, including futurism and all other “isms,” no one could doubt the significance of Mayakovsky’s creative heritage. He was attributed to the classics of socialist realism. The poet could no longer object to this because of his absence in this world.
The death of the poet
It has been said many times that "the revolution devours its children." This is exactly what happened to Mayakovsky. It is difficult to find another creator who would so selflessly devote himself to one topic, "stepping on the throat of his own song." "Ode to the Revolution" was far from the only work of the poet about it. But after the victory of the uprising, Mayakovsky was completely inappropriate and unclaimed by the new government. He summed up his life with one bullet.